JP2007122489A - Reader and going-out data carrier decision method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recognize that a user is trying to go out of a house. <P>SOLUTION: An RFID reader configured so as to recognize some RFID for transmitting/receiving an electric wave among a plurality of RFID respectively installed in a plurality of objects is provided with a house ID specifying part 311 for specifying some of a plurality of RFID installed in the house of a user (house ID); a storage part 32 for, in the case of recognizing another RFID when the house ID is recognized, storing identification information indicating the RFID as well as time when the RFID is recognized; and a going-out ID decision part 314 for, when the house ID is not recognized, deciding going-out ID to be recognized when the user goes out of the house among identification information stored in the storage part 32 based on the time stored in the storage part 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a reading apparatus and an outing data carrier determination method.

  A data carrier capable of storing a certain amount of data (for example, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)) is attached to an object, and a reader reads the identification information of the data carrier, thereby providing object identification and other services. There is known a data carrier system capable of performing the above.

  One of the services provided by the data carrier system is a navigation service using the location where the data carrier is installed (for example, Patent Document 1). Hereinafter, an example of this navigation service will be described.

  First, a data carrier storing location information indicating the pasted location is pasted around the city (bus stop, storefront, etc.). When a user walks around the city with a reading device (for example, a mobile phone with a data carrier reading function), the reading device acquires the location information from a data carrier within the reach of radio waves.

The reader that has acquired the location information acquires provision information (such as bus approach information and sale product information) according to the location indicated by the acquired location information. Specifically, it is conceivable to acquire what is stored in advance in the reading device or to connect to the network each time. In this way, the reading device acquires the provision information according to the place where the data carrier is pasted, and provides the acquired provision information to the user.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-206590 (paragraph 0004)

  By the way, the provided information is mainly required by the user when going out. However, in the above-described conventional technology, the reading device cannot recognize that the user is going out, and the user actually goes out and provides information about the place after providing information is necessary. Since the information is acquired, there is a case where the provided information is still being acquired when the user wants to receive the provided information.

  On the other hand, there is also a method of installing a data carrier in the user's home space (home, workplace, etc.) and recognizing that the user has gone out when the data carrier is no longer recognized. There was a problem that it was not possible to recognize going out without actually going out.

  Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a reading apparatus and an outing data carrier determination method capable of recognizing that a user is about to leave a predetermined area such as a home space.

  In order to solve the above problems, a reading device according to the present invention is a reading device that recognizes a plurality of data carriers installed on a plurality of objects and capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves. Among the carriers, data indicating the data carrier when the data carrier specified in the predetermined area is recognized, and when another data carrier is recognized when the data carrier specified by the specifying device is recognized The outing data carrier identification information temporary storage means for storing the carrier identification information together with the recognized time and the outing data carrier identification information temporary storage means when the data carrier specified by the specifying means is no longer recognized. Based on the stored time, the data stored by the out-going data carrier identification information temporary storage means is stored. Of data carrier identification information, wherein the user comprises a go data carrier identification information determining means for determining out data carrier identification information recognized even upon exiting outside the given area.

  There are things that you always wear when you go out of a certain area, but you don't wear that thing in a certain area. For example, Japanese people don't wear shoes in their homes, but they do it almost everywhere they go. Such a thing can be worn just before going out. According to the reading device, by determining the data carrier worn immediately before going out, it is possible to determine the data carrier attached to an object worn just before going out such as the shoe. Thereafter, the reading apparatus can recognize that the user is going to go out of a predetermined area such as a home space from this data carrier as a medium.

  Further, in the reading device, the reading device further includes time acquisition means for acquiring a time when the data carrier specified by the specifying means is no longer recognized, and the outing data carrier identification information determining means includes: Of the outing data carrier identification information stored by the outing data carrier identification information temporary storage unit, the difference between the time acquired by the time acquisition unit and the time stored by the outing data carrier identification information temporary storage unit May be determined as outing data carrier identification information that is recognized even when the user goes out of the predetermined area.

  According to this, the reading device compares the time when the data carrier was worn before going out with the time when it actually went out, and if the difference is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the reading device wears it immediately before going out. It can be determined that the data carrier is attached.

  Further, in this reading apparatus, the reading apparatus further includes a storage unit that stores the predetermined value for each data carrier specified by the specifying unit, and the outing data carrier identification information determining unit is configured to store the outing data. Of the outing data carrier identification information stored by the carrier identification information temporary storage unit, the difference between the time acquired by the time acquisition unit and the time stored by the outing data carrier identification information temporary storage unit is Outgoing data carrier identification information that is less than or equal to a predetermined value stored for the data carrier that is currently recognized among the data carriers specified by the specifying means is also recognized when the user goes out of the predetermined area. It may be determined as data carrier identification information.

  According to this, since the reading device can change a predetermined value for each home space (the degree of “immediately before” regarding the “immediately before going out”), an appropriate outing in consideration of the circumstances of each home space. Data carrier identification information can be determined.

  The outing data carrier determination method according to the present invention is an outing data carrier determination method for determining a data carrier to be recognized when a user goes out of a predetermined area, and is installed in each of a plurality of objects. A specifying step of identifying a data carrier installed in the predetermined area among the plurality of data carriers using a reading device that recognizes a plurality of data carriers capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves, and the specifying step A data carrier identification information temporary storage step of storing data carrier identification information indicating the data carrier together with the recognized time when recognizing another data carrier when recognizing the data carrier specified in When the data carrier specified in the specifying step is not recognized Based on the time stored in the outing data carrier identification information temporary storage step, among the outing data carrier identification information stored in the outing data carrier identification information temporary storage step, when the user goes out of the predetermined area And an outing data carrier identification information determining step for determining outing data carrier identification information also recognized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an RFID system 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the RFID system 10 includes a plurality of RFIDs 20, an RFID reader 30, and a server device 40.

  The RFID 20 is a device that functions as a data carrier capable of storing data, and is attached to a moving object or a fixed object. Further, the RFID 20 is configured to be able to read the stored data (stored data) by the RFID reader 30 in a non-contact manner. More specifically, the configuration may be such that the electromagnetic field emitted by the RFID reader 30 is read in accordance with the stored data (passive type, semi-passive type), and the RFID reader 30 emits. When a radio wave is received, it may be configured to be read by transmitting a radio wave corresponding to stored data (active type).

  Further, each RFID 20 is provided with identification information (RFID identification information) that can uniquely identify the RFID 20 from among a plurality of RFIDs 20, and each RFID 20 uses the identification information provided to itself as a part of the stored data. Remember as.

  The RFID reader 30 is provided in a mobile phone, for example, and is configured to read data stored in the RFID 20. Specifically, a reading signal is transmitted to the RFID 20, and a data signal returned in response to the reading signal is received. The data signal includes data stored in the RFID 20, and the RFID reader 30 acquires data stored in the RFID 20 from the data signal. As described above, identification information is stored in the RFID 20, and the RFID reader 30 functions as an identification information reading device by acquiring the identification information included in the data signal.

  The RFID reader 30 is carried by a human and acquires identification information from RFID 20 attached to various people and things that can transmit and receive radio waves. As a result, the RFID reader 30 recognizes the RFID 20 that can transmit and receive radio waves.

  The server device 40 is connected to the RFID reader 30 via a mobile communication system such as a mobile phone system or a wireless LAN system. The server device 40 also stores information (hereinafter referred to as provision information) to be provided to the RFID reader 30 and other devices (not shown) in association with the identification information of the RFID 20. The RFID reader 30 transmits a read signal for reading the provided information to the server device 40, and the server device 40 that has received the read signal sends the provided information according to the read signal from the stored ones. Select and transmit to the RFID reader 30.

  The RFID reader 30 receives the provision information thus transmitted and provides it to the user.

  In the present embodiment, immediately before the user goes out, the RFID reader 30 can receive provision information (bus access information, sale item information, etc.) necessary when the user goes out from the server device 40. First, the outline will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, a plurality of RFIDs 20 are attached to the user's house. Below, RFID20 attached to these houses is called house ID. This house ID is arranged so as to recognize any one while the RFID reader 30 is in the house. The RFID reader 30 determines that the user is in the house when any one of the plurality of house IDs (house ID groups) is recognized.

  When the user goes out of the house, he wears several RFIDs 20 together with the RFID reader 30. The RFID reader 30 determines the RFID 20 (hereinafter referred to as an outing ID) that the user wears when going out, and stores the identification information. When the outing ID identified by the identification information thus stored is recognized, the RFID reader 30 transmits a read signal to the server device 40, and the server device 40 selects the provision information according to the read signal. Transmit to the RFID reader 30. In this way, when the RFID reader 30 recognizes the outing ID, the provision information necessary for the user to go out can be acquired according to the outing ID.

  Details of the function of the RFID reader 30 will be described below. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing functional blocks of the RFID reader 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the RFID reader 30 functionally includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, an input / output unit 33, a network communication unit 34, and an RFID communication unit 35. The control unit 31 includes an identification information acquisition unit 310, a house ID identification unit 311, an outing ID provisional determination unit 312, an outing time acquisition unit 313, an outing ID determination unit 314, and a provision information acquisition unit 315.

  The control unit 31 includes a processing unit for executing a program stored in the storage unit 32 and controls each unit of the RFID reader 30. Details of the control unit 31 will be described later.

  The storage unit 32 stores a program for carrying out the present embodiment. It also operates as a work memory for the control unit 31. Further, the storage unit 32 stores the type in association with the identification information of each RFID 20.

  FIG. 4 is a specific example of this. As shown in the figure, the types include “house”, “wear”, “portable”, etc., each being an RFID 20 installed in a user's house, an RFID 20 worn by a user, and a portable RFID 20 It is shown that.

  The input / output unit 33 is a human machine interface with the user of the RFID reader 30. Specifically, a keypad, a microphone, a speaker, or the like can be used. The control unit 31 accepts user input via the input / output unit 33 and provides provided information to the user.

  The network communication unit 34 includes an antenna and is configured to be able to communicate with a base station apparatus in the mobile communication system. The control unit 31 communicates with the server device 40 via the network communication unit 34 to transmit a read signal and receive provided information.

  The RFID communication unit 35 reads data stored in the RFID 20 by transmitting radio waves to the RFID 20. Then, the read data is output to the control unit 31.

  Hereinafter, details of the function of the control unit 31 will be described. When the RFID reader 30 is carried by a person, the RFID communication unit 35 periodically transmits data stored in the RFID 20 in the vicinity of the place where the person is present (a range in which radio waves can be transmitted and received between the RFID communication unit 35 and the RFID 20). Read. When a certain RFID 20 is worn by a person, the data stored in the RFID 20 is read by the RFID reader 30. The RFID communication unit 35 outputs the read data to the identification information acquisition unit 310.

  The identification information acquisition unit 310 acquires identification information of each RFID 20 from the input data. Thereby, the identification information acquisition unit 310 recognizes a plurality of RFIDs 20 that can transmit and receive radio waves. The identification information acquisition unit 310 outputs the recognized identification information of the RFID 20 to the outing ID provisional determination unit 312, the outing time acquisition unit 313, and the provision information acquisition unit 315.

  The house ID specifying unit 311 specifies the RFID 20 installed in a predetermined area among the plurality of RFIDs 20 whose identification information is stored in the storage unit 32. In the present embodiment, the predetermined area is assumed to be a user's house. The house ID specifying unit 311 specifies the RFID 20 stored in the storage unit 32 as having the type “house” as the house ID.

  When the identification information acquisition unit 310 recognizes another RFID 20 when the identification information acquisition unit 310 recognizes the RFID 20 specified as the house ID, the outing ID provisional determination unit 312 recognizes the identification information indicating the RFID 20. Along with the time, it is stored in an outing ID temporary storage table, which will be described later.

  Specifically, the going-out ID provisional determination unit 312 determines whether or not the identification information input from the identification information acquisition unit 310 includes the identification information of the RFID 20 specified as the house ID. If it is included, the outing ID provisional determination unit 312 selects the RFID 20 that is stored as being “wearing” or “portable” in the storage unit 32 among the RFIDs 20 recognized at that time, The RFID 20 is written in the outing ID temporary storage table together with the time (recognition time) at which the identification information acquisition unit 310 is recognized.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the outing ID temporary storage table. The going-out ID temporary storage table is stored in the storage unit 32 and stores the identification information and the recognition time in association with each other as shown in FIG. The outing ID provisional determination unit 312 stores the identification information of the selected RFID 20 together with the recognition time in the outing ID provisional storage table.

  The going-out time acquisition unit 313 monitors whether or not the identification information acquisition unit 310 recognizes the RFID 20 specified as the house ID. And when it recognizes that the house ID recognized until then is no longer recognized at a certain time, that time is acquired and it is set as going-out time.

  When the outing time determination unit 314 recognizes that the RFID 20 specified as the house ID is no longer recognized by the outing time acquisition unit 313, the outing ID determination unit 314 goes out based on the recognition time stored in the outing ID temporary storage table. Of the RFIDs 20 identified by the identification information stored in the temporary ID storage table, the RFID 20 to be handled as an outing ID is determined.

  More specifically, outing ID determination unit 314 has a predetermined difference (hereinafter referred to as difference time) between the outing time and the recognition time among the identification information stored in the outing ID temporary storage table. The RFID 20 that is identified by being less than or equal to the outing determination threshold is determined to be handled as an outing ID.

  The outing determination threshold is stored for each house ID. An example is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the storage unit 32 stores an outing determination threshold value for each house ID. The going-out ID determination unit 314 performs the above determination using the going-out determination threshold for the house ID that was actually recognized (the RFID 30 stored as the house ID in the storage unit 32 was recognized to the end). Do.

  Hereinafter, a specific example will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. If the going-out time is 8:39:03, the difference time for ID-E is 8 minutes and 38 seconds, and the difference time for ID-F is 3 minutes and 13 seconds. Further, if the house ID recognized until just before is ID-A, the outing determination threshold is 5 minutes.

  Since the difference time for ID-E exceeds the outing determination threshold, the outing ID determination unit 314 does not set ID-E as the outing ID. On the other hand, since the difference time for ID-F is less than the outing determination threshold, the outing ID determination unit 314 determines ID-F as the outing ID.

  The outing ID determination unit 314 stores the outing ID determined in this way in the outing ID storage table shown below.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the outing ID storage table. The outing ID storage table is stored in the storage unit 32, and stores the identification information of the house ID, the identification information of the outing ID, and the difference time as shown in FIG. The outing ID determination unit 314 stores the determined outing ID in the outing ID storage table together with the difference time for the outing ID and the house ID corresponding to the outing determination threshold used for the outing ID determination.

  When the identification information acquisition unit 310 recognizes the RFID 20 stored as the outing ID in the outing ID storage table, the provided information acquisition unit 315 generates a read signal corresponding to the RFID 20 (for example, a specific RFID 20 Is recognized, a read signal for acquiring the bus approach information is generated.) And transmitted to the server device 40. Upon receiving this, the server device 40 transmits the provided information stored in association with the identification information to the RFID reader 30. In this way, the provision information acquisition unit 315 acquires the provision information corresponding to the outing ID and provides it to the user via the input / output unit 33.

  By the way, it is preferable that the control part 31 updates the said going-out determination threshold based on the situation of going-out ID determination by the going-out ID determination part 314. That is, it is preferable that the control unit 31 updates the outing determination threshold based on the difference time for each RFID 20 calculated in the outing ID determination process so that the outing ID can be determined more appropriately. Hereinafter, this point will be described.

  The control unit 31 updates the outing determination threshold value for each house ID. In addition, after the above-described series of processing is performed by the outing ID determination unit 314, the control unit 31 updates the outing determination threshold used for the outing ID determination.

  First, when one or more outing IDs are stored in the outing ID storage table, the control unit 31 updates the outing determination threshold based on the smallest difference time stored for each outing ID. More specifically, the control unit 31 sets the outing determination threshold value to a value larger than this minimum value by a predetermined amount. Then, the control unit 31 compares the new outing determination threshold value with the difference time for each outing ID, and deletes the outing ID whose difference time exceeds the new outing determination threshold value from the outing ID storage table. Thereby, the control part 31 comes to be able to determine one most suitable as going-out ID.

  Next, when the outing ID storage table does not store the outing ID, the control unit 31 performs the above processing based on the recognition time and the outing time for each RFID 20 stored in the outing ID temporary storage table. Obtain the calculated difference time. And the control part 31 updates a going-out determination threshold value based on the minimum of them. More specifically, the control unit 31 sets a minimum value plus a predetermined value as the outing determination threshold value. The predetermined value is also preferably a value such that the time obtained by adding this to the minimum difference time does not exceed other difference times. Thereby, for example, even when the outing determination threshold is too short to determine the outing ID, the control unit 31 can appropriately determine the outing ID.

  The processing of the RFID reader 30 described above will be described in more detail with reference to a processing flowchart.

  FIG. 7 is a process flow diagram of an outing ID determination process by the RFID reader 30. First, the RFID reader 30 determines whether or not the house ID is recognized (S1). If the house ID is not recognized, the RFID reader 30 ends the outing ID determination process. On the other hand, if the house ID is recognized, an outing ID temporary storage process is performed (S2).

  Here, the outing ID temporary storage process will be described. FIG. 8 is a processing flowchart of the outing ID temporary storage process. The RFID reader 30 determines whether or not the identification information is stored as “wearing” or “portable” for all recognized RFIDs 20 (S21, S24), and “wearing” or “portable”. Is stored in the outing ID temporary storage table together with the recognition time (S23). At this time, it is preferable not to store those already registered.

  Next, the RFID reader 30 determines whether or not all RFIDs 20 stored in the outing ID temporary storage table are actually recognized (S26), and the unrecognized ones are temporarily stored in the outing ID temporary storage table. Delete from the table (S27).

  The outing ID temporary storage process is performed as described above.

  The RFID reader 30 performs the going-out ID temporary storage process while the house ID is recognized, and starts the following process when it is no longer recognized (S3). That is, the RFID reader 30 acquires the time when it is no longer recognized as the time to go out (S4).

  Next, the RFID reader 30 performs the following processing for all the RFIDs 20 stored in the outing ID temporary storage table (S5, S9). That is, the difference between the going-out time and the recognition time is calculated and set as the difference time (S6). The RFID reader 30 determines whether or not the difference time is below the going-out determination threshold value (S7). If the difference time is below, the RFID reader 30 is associated with the recognized house ID and the outing ID is set as the going-out ID. Store in the storage table (S8). If it exceeds, the process of S8 is not performed.

  When the above process ends, the RFID reader 30 determines whether or not the outing ID for the recognized house ID has increased (S10), and ends the process if it has increased. On the other hand, when it has not increased, a going-out determination threshold value update process is performed (S11).

  FIG. 9 is a process flow diagram of an outing determination threshold (Tt) update process. First, the RFID reader 30 determines whether or not the outing ID is stored for the recognized house ID (S111). If not stored, obtain the smallest difference time (denoted Ta) among the difference times calculated in S6 for each RFID 20 stored in the outing ID temporary storage table, and calculate Tt = Ta + α. Thus, the outing determination threshold is updated (S112). This α is a predetermined value. As an example, the time when α is added to the Ta is such a value that it does not exceed another difference time.

  When the outing ID is stored, the RFID reader 30 acquires the shortest difference time (Tb) among the difference times stored in association with each outing ID (S113). If the acquired Tb is equal to or greater than the outing determination threshold Tt, the outing determination threshold is updated by calculating Tt = Tt− (Tt−Tb) × β (S115). Thereby, the RFID reader 30 sets the going-out determination threshold value to a value larger by (1−β) × (Tt−Tb) than Tb. On the other hand, if the acquired Tb is less than the going-out determination threshold value Tt, the going-out determination threshold value is updated by calculating Tt = Tb + γ (S116). Also by this, the RFID reader 30 sets the outing determination threshold value to a value larger by γ than Tb.

  As described above, the RFID reader 30 can store the RFID 20 recognized immediately before going out as an outing ID. Thereafter, the RFID reader 30 uses the outing ID as a medium so that the user can now go home. It is possible to recognize that the user is going out of a predetermined area. And just before going out, provision information (for example, bus approach information, sale product information, etc.) required after going out can be acquired.

  Further, since the RFID reader 30 can change the outing determination threshold value for each home space, it is possible to determine an appropriate outing ID in consideration of the circumstances of the home space such as a house or office.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the RFID system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the going-out ID determination process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the functional block of the RFID reader which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the RFID classification | category storage table which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the going-out ID temporary storage table which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the going-out ID storage table which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of going out ID determination processing which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of going out ID temporary storage process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of the going-out determination threshold value update process which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  10 RFID system, 20 RFID, 30 RFID reader, 31 control unit, 32 storage unit, 33 input / output unit, 34 network communication unit, 35 RFID communication unit, 40 server device, 310 identification information acquisition unit, 311 house ID identification unit, 312 Outgoing ID provisional determination unit, 313 Outing time acquisition unit, 314 Outing ID determination unit, 315 Provision information acquisition unit.

Claims (4)

A reader for recognizing a plurality of data carriers installed on a plurality of objects, capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves,
A specifying means for specifying a data carrier installed in a predetermined area among the plurality of data carriers;
When the data carrier specified by the specifying means is recognized and another data carrier is recognized, the data carrier identification information indicating the data carrier is stored together with the recognized time. Storage means;
Data carrier stored by the outing data carrier identification information temporary storage unit based on the time stored by the outing data carrier identification information temporary storage unit when the data carrier specified by the specifying unit is not recognized Out of the identification information, outing data carrier identification information determining means for determining outing data carrier identification information recognized even when the user goes out of the predetermined area;
A reading apparatus comprising: The reading device according to claim 1.
The reader is
Time acquisition means for acquiring the time when the data carrier specified by the specifying means is no longer recognized;
Further including
The outing data carrier identification information determination means includes the time acquired by the time acquisition means among the outing data carrier identification information stored by the outing data carrier identification information temporary storage means, and the outing data carrier identification information temporary storage. The difference between the time stored by the means and a predetermined value or less is determined as outing data carrier identification information that is recognized even when the user goes out of the predetermined area.
A reading device. The reading device according to claim 2,
The reader is
Storage means for storing the predetermined value for each data carrier specified by the specifying means;
Further including
The outing data carrier identification information determination means includes the time acquired by the time acquisition means among the outing data carrier identification information stored by the outing data carrier identification information temporary storage means, and the outing data carrier identification information temporary storage. The user sets outgoing data carrier identification information whose difference from the time stored by the means is equal to or less than a predetermined value stored for the data carrier currently recognized among the data carriers specified by the specifying means. It is determined as outing data carrier identification information that is recognized even when going out of a predetermined area.
A reading device. An outing data carrier determination method for determining a data carrier recognized when a user goes out of a predetermined area,
Using a reader that recognizes one that can transmit and receive radio waves among multiple data carriers installed on multiple objects,
A specifying step of specifying a data carrier installed in the predetermined area among the plurality of data carriers;
When the data carrier specified in the specifying step is recognized and another data carrier is recognized, the data carrier identification information indicating the data carrier is stored together with the recognized time. A memory step;
Outgoing data stored in the outing data carrier identification information temporary storage step based on the time stored in the outing data carrier identification information temporary storage step when the data carrier specified in the specifying step is no longer recognized Outgoing data carrier identification information determining step for determining outing data carrier identification information that is recognized even when the user goes out of the predetermined area among the carrier identification information;
A data carrier determination method for going out.

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